A specific alert warning of an attack by a Pakistan-based terrorist group was shared by central security agencies with Hyderabad police on Thursday morning, Home Ministry officials said on Friday.

Two blasts ripped through a crowded market in Hyderabad on Thursday, leaving 16 dead and 120 injured.

The Ministry had sent specific alert on Thursday morning to four cities — Hyderabad, Bangalore, Coimbatore and Hubli — warning them of probable attacks by terrorists, they said.

Besides, Maharashtra and Gujarat police forces were also sent the alert, the officials said.

According to Home Ministry officials, the alerts were also sent to all States on February 19 and 20, that Pakistan-based terrorist groups may carry out attacks in a major city to avenge the hanging of 26/11 terrorist Ajmal Kasab and Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru.

They said the central security agencies had sent an advisory on Tuesday asking all States to tighten security in sensitive places as Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad and Hizbul Mujahideen may launch attacks.

The security agencies sent another advisory on Wednesday saying banned Indian Mujahideen may carry out terror attacks to avenge the hanging of Kasab and Guru.

Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde had on Thursday said all States were alerted about a possible terror strike by militant groups.

However, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy had said those were general alerts which often keep coming from the Centre.

Perpetrators will be apprehended: Shinde

Meanwhile, Mr. Shinde told Parliament on Friday that government will make all possible efforts to apprehend the perpetrators and masterminds behind the twin blasts in Hyderabad.

Making a statement in the Lok Sabha after touring the blast sites, Mr. Shinde said the situation was under control and the government was committed to combat such cowardly terror attacks.

He said the twin blasts took place in a busy locality of Dilsukhnagar area of Hyderabad city at a local bus stop and a canteen, which were about 150 meters from each other at 6.58 p.m. and 7.01 p.m. on Thursday.

“Preliminary investigations reveal that the IEDs were placed on bicycles causing explosion at both the places,” he said, adding 16 persons were killed and 117 injured, four of them critically, in the blasts.

He said two cases have been registered by the police and the National Investigation Agency would investigate it in conjunction with Andhra Pradesh police.

Mr. Shinde said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had announced Rs 2 lakh as ex-gratia for the next of kin of the deceased and Rs. 50,000 to the injured.

The State government has announced Rs. six lakh to the next of kin of the deceased and Rs. 50,000 to Rs. 1 lakh for the injured besides bearing all expenses for treatment of the injured, he said.

“The situation is under control,” the Home Minister said.

Mr. Shinde said he, Home Secretary R.K. Singh and NIA Director-General S.C. Sinha visited Hyderabad and reviewed the situation with Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan and Chief Minister Mr. Reddy, the Chief Secretary, the Director-General of Police and the Commissioner of Police.

Mr. Shinde said the State government immediately deployed emergency medical response team along with 25 ambulances to take the injured to the hospital.

“The State police and a team of NIA from the NIA Branch office at Hyderabad immediately reached the place of occurrence and cordoned off the area to collect evidence from the crime scene,” he said.

Mr. Shinde said a team of NIA led by an Inspector-General and Post Blast Investigative team of the National Security Guard were sent to Hyderabad from Delhi at 9.30 p.m. on Thursday night by a special plane and they reached by 11.30 p.m.

Its time govt shows commitment by introducing higher cash rewards for information leading to arrest of accused.

from:
satyanarayna

Posted on: Feb 23, 2013 at 05:43 IST

Very true, this has come as a good disguise for the scam ridden govt. On one side the security fabric of the country is being torn apart, on another side the political class is enmeshing in scams after scams shamelessly.

from:
raju

Posted on: Feb 23, 2013 at 01:31 IST

If it to divert attention, it is not an act of terrorism. BTW if you notice closely in the last 3-4 years govt has tried some gimmick or the other to divert attention after a scam was exposed.

from:
Pawan

Posted on: Feb 23, 2013 at 01:21 IST

Present day Congress = No / failed governance.

from:
harshi

Posted on: Feb 23, 2013 at 00:40 IST

I have a practical question. With the sources from various intelligence agencies across the world, can we actually identify a bomb blast ahead and prevent it? I don't think so. Even if the ministry had sent warnings to these cities a month before, with our infrastructure and population and busy spots, it's quite impossible. And had any of the terrorist groups refuse to take responsibility for such acts, could we find who actually did it? I doubt that.

from:
Ramsi

Posted on: Feb 22, 2013 at 23:43 IST

Last few years arround 20 attacks killing our fellow religions ( Hindu, Christian, Muslim, Buddhism, Jainism & Etc.,) in our country (India) / arround the world ... I felt bad about the death of our innocent brothers and sisters (beyond religions) were dead for no reason (whatever its not their fault)... I admire the way the Americans because they had only one attack (I mean twin tower WTC) they stood and made security and safety in place on time... But we (India) had more than 20 attacks still we didn't have any security or safety measurement... My comment is not to offend anyone just Its my confession as citizen of India & Global (becasue to Extend my confession to other countries who struggle the same)...

I pray God for all of us to be peace and safe... God bless everyone to live / lead a better life...

from:
ram mohan

Posted on: Feb 22, 2013 at 23:36 IST

Once again our beloved India is attacked by terrorist outfits that has taken lives of 16 innocents and injured hundreds. This time Great Hyderabad’s crowded lanes have been targeted which indicates that coward terrorists wanted to kill maximum people. Harish Kartik and Mohammed Aijaz Ahmed who were on the way of pursuing their bright future have been killed, children of Sapna and Rafiuddin are being orphaned. Being an Indian and a human being, I am deeply disturbed by this coward attack. I strongly condemn this attack and demand capital punishment for real perpetrators and masterminds behind the blasts likewise my heartfelt condolence and sympathies to the bereaved families for their irreparable losses. Who are enemies of humanity and peace yet has to be found by our reliable agencies? We have external terror as well as internal terror. Pak based outfits like LeT HuJI had been played roles in deadly attacks in past. Home grown internal terror outfits like IM etc. want to destroy our

from:
Shakeel Ahmad Khan

Posted on: Feb 22, 2013 at 23:25 IST

The families of victims should file a law suit for criminal negligence against the authorities, both State and Centre.

from:
Sekher

Posted on: Feb 22, 2013 at 21:56 IST

What does he mean when he says "these are general alerts which keep coming from the center? What does the state government do upon receiving such inputs? Is no follow up action taken up by the State Governments upon receiving such inputs?

Such is the callous attitude of the Congress Govt in tackling terror.

from:
Vijay

Posted on: Feb 22, 2013 at 21:15 IST

How can CM of AP say .. those were general alerts ..How can an alert be categorised as general or non general. If this is something realted to the safety of general public.. who will be held accountable for all this? Why do we choose government . What are the roles and responsbility of the government..

from:
Amit Ajmani

Posted on: Feb 22, 2013 at 20:40 IST

If a specific threat alert was given to Andhra government on Thursday morning,why the Home Minister asked not to relate this incident to any specific group.There is also a news item about the Delhi police had information that the arrested IM operative conducted a reccee on Dilsukh nagar previously.Why no security measures were initiated and a surveillance kept in place.It shows that the governments are taking things casually only.This attitude should change..

from:
K.Sugavanam

Posted on: Feb 22, 2013 at 20:22 IST

When the whole country is shell-shocked by twin blasts in Hyderabad,Would it be proper to bring the chopper scam to the fore?

from:
Gajanan Taman

Posted on: Feb 22, 2013 at 20:10 IST

The police suspects a cycle bomb is used in Hyderabad blast.Hence the police should trace all the calls made between 5pm -8pm during which the culprits made pre planning and post planning of bombing.Though it is a difficult job with the suitable technology from US, police dept can narrow down the suspects

from:
VSBALASUBRAMANIAN

Posted on: Feb 22, 2013 at 19:44 IST

Lets have the discussion about how India executed an innocent Afzal Guru. Lets also talk about capital punishment now. Lets talk about how we can get these bombers (if they are ever caught) out of prison in 10 years because of good behavior in prison even after killing 17 people.

from:
Hemant

Posted on: Feb 22, 2013 at 19:25 IST

Terror attacks happened in US & UK only once.only in India this happens time and again. Why is there an intelligence failure happening. Higher officials and politicians should own responsibility and resign their posts, instead of warming up their seats. Their failure means doomsday for many families, will they leave anybody in their family to perish like this.

from:
Joseph

Posted on: Feb 22, 2013 at 19:04 IST

Our cops and CBI are either hand tied or controlled by the ruling party.
They will most probably make believe that they r seriously looking for the perpetrators. The government wastes money on Helicopters but will not install a good security system. Look at USA and UK their security system is so good they catch them before they could do any harm. I think they should just privatize the police force it would be better now the politicians use them as their security guards and goons.

from:
Anjan

Posted on: Feb 22, 2013 at 19:00 IST

While Pakistan is going down it wants to take India with it. Polarizing forces on the right of centre are helping this process by returning violence with violence, rhetoric with rhetoric, and tribalistic statements with more tribalistic statements. This kind of competing hate will only bring poverty, lack of investments and a poor international reputation. Indians need to wake up!

from:
P.N.Shreeniwas

Posted on: Feb 22, 2013 at 19:00 IST

Can the State govt afford to ignore the terror alert stating that it was a general alert?Even with the alert we could not save those 16 precious lives.we are with the victim's family.Terrorism should be nailed from the root.

from:
Poonguzhali

Posted on: Feb 22, 2013 at 18:37 IST

@Gk : choper scam will go unnoticed. That is for sure. There is no need for blast and such thing and all. what happened to CWG , 2G ..etc..chopper scam is so small comparing them. These were acts of terrorists whom congress is pacifying for vote bank.

As per shindes remark : "Center shared the intelligence report for before 2 days". if that is the case, dont they know who was plotting it ?. But still they can't identify who were behind it.

from:
Niwaz

Posted on: Feb 22, 2013 at 18:36 IST

The attack is not a setup to divert attention of public from the chopper scam. But i agree with you that the punishment will not be harsh as it could have been given to non-government officials involved.

from:
Raj

Posted on: Feb 22, 2013 at 17:52 IST

If future alerts are received please give them directly to the people, so they will take care not to venture out to such areas. We can anyway not trust the governments to act on the alerts.

from:
Brinda

Posted on: Feb 22, 2013 at 17:33 IST

These are routine alerts with no substance. Why there are no blasts in other cities? Local Police receive 1001 such alerts every week.

from:
Sankar

Posted on: Feb 22, 2013 at 17:29 IST

The blame game begins! Every time something like this happens, the center and the state blame game begins. Coincidentally, the lapse of communication is between congress run central government and congress run state government. The politics of power games, corruption leading to appeasement in the name of secularism is sickening. The only horrifying issue is why are Indians so resilient, why cant they unite to see through this and throw the inept government out and bring a change.

from:
Aparna Gunjikar

Posted on: Feb 22, 2013 at 17:14 IST

These blasts are diverting attention from the Chopper Scam. Don't you think so? While Hyderabad Blast is a serious terrorism act; and the perpetrator must be and will be brought to justice; who will punish the Chopper Scammers?
Is there anyone trustworthy in this government?